Hey, guys! I love, love, love each and every one of you, and incredibly thankful for all the love you send my way! You all are truly appreciated! 💕🥺 For all the love I received in the last chapter, I'll update another chapter as a gift to you guys in an hour after I'm done editing it. Wait for the next update but until then enjoy this one! XOXO! 💕
Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I grabbed the next diary and began reading. It unfolded her life, delving into her inner thoughts, the ones she never shared with anyone.Each entry whispered the secrets she had kept guarded, offering a raw and unvarnished glimpse into the woman behind the facade I thought I knew. For everyone else, she seemed like this lively, wild, and slightly out-of-control twenty-something trapped in a teenager's spirit. But looking into this diary, she was a person carrying a lot of sadness. She appeared more grown-up and intelligent than she let on.I froze as I spotted my name inked in her diary. A hesitation gripped me; I was reluctant to dive into those words. The fear lingered—I didn't want to uncover how she might have played me, viewing me merely as an opportunity. The prospect of what those pages held felt like a weight on my chest, and I wasn't sure if I could handle it.But perhaps, just maybe, I could finally grasp the motive behind it all. If it was about savin
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅"I need to go see him!" Alessia yelled for what felt like the hundredth time as Adriano drove us back home.I sat in the car disbelief, words trapped in my throat. A deathmatch? The Cosa Nostra might've placed bets on underground cage fights, but they never directly immersed themselves in it.I didn't know that Vincenzo was into cage fighting. He has never said a word about it. The gritty world of illegal cage fighting seemed a far cry from the polished veneer of Vincenzo. I struggled to reconcile the two, wondering if there was an even darker side of him I had yet to uncover.It suddenly dawned on me how gently he'd trained me for combat before our mission to confront Santino, realizing he'd held back, perhaps to shield me from some aspects of his life. Adriano stepped into the foyer and Alessia marched behind him while I numbly followed the two, "He specifically instructed me to make sure that you two were safe at home." "I don't care what he said, Adriano! if y
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅The cage was a hexagonal space enclosed by a sturdy steel cage, standing about 8 feet tall. Its steel bars were designed with sharp angles and the lighting only highlighted the cold, shiny floor. Around the cage, there were elevated seating arrangements for the audience, offering a clear view of the fight.The buzz in the arena was electric. The most anticipated fight of the night was about to happen, and the crowd, a wild sea of eager faces, erupted into a chant that reverberated like a heartbeat: "Blade! Blade! Blade!" The rhythmic mantra echoed off the walls, a collective fervor that only intensified my growing anxiety. I never asked him why they called him that... Why Scott or someone else would occasionally call him Blade, I thought it was just a nickname these Men of honor all seemed to have. I thought it was harmless and given to him because he was obsessed with knives but I could have never imagined this. We were escorted to the seats that were reserved f
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅Bruto let out a guttural roar, the sound reverberating through the air, and brought the mallet down with brutal force aimed at Vincenzo. I couldn't bear to watch; so I shut my eyes.A hot tear rolled down my cheek...Then, his roar abruptly stopped, replaced by a harsh, gasping noise followed by strained wheezing.The sudden shouts and cheers of the crowd made me snap my eyes back open. The scene before me had completely shifted, Vincenzo was now standing before Bruto, his knife buried deep in his throat. It was the same blade he had used to cut me out of my wedding dress on our wedding night. The mallet slipped from his grasp and thudded to the mat, echoing through the space. Bruto's hands futilely struggled with the blade. He was gasping and choking on his own blood, staggered, his legs giving way beneath him. I don't think I'll ever forget this sight.Vincenzo's eyes blazed with a savagery beyond words as he mercilessly twisted the knife, I winced and struggle
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅A self-satisfied smirk appeared on his face, "...that made you fall in love with me?" I gasped as his grip tightened. I was very aware of the blood now clinging to my skin. It made me feel a flutter in my stomach. I couldn't figure out if it was a good flutter or a bad one. "Something like that..." I whispered. In just three more steps, Vincenzo pushed me into a stall, my back hit the wall, the impact jolting through my body. My breath rushed out, leaving me momentarily breathless. His gaze never left mine as he closed the gap between us in a second, and before I could react, his lips crashed against mine. The force of the kiss stole the air from my lungs, and the taste of blood lingered on his lips.My hands instinctively reached for his shoulders, the bloodied, hot skin beneath my fingertips. The kiss was fierce, a collision of desperation and dominance. It was as if the violence in the cage had ignited an inferno between us.Vincenzo's fingers tangled in my h
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I finished buttoning up the last two buttons, then turned to find him standing there, only in his pants. He had this extra suit we both agreed to share. I wore the shirt, and he took on the pants.The toll of the recent fight was evident – he had numerous bruises, cuts, and wounds that cried out for medical attention.I observed him methodically arranging various knives of all sizes on his person and securing the gun in its holster. The same perfectly organized and choreographed routine. We hadn't talked afterward, he practically showered me before taking his turn. I was too weak and disoriented from what had just happened to process much of anything.One thought nagged at the back of my mind consistently. Did I enjoy sex like this? My whole life had been spent looking over my shoulder, making sure no one got this close, not even Scott but Vincenzo, I couldn't push him away even if I wanted to. "And I love you... I love you, Claire Parker, I love you so much." T
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅He sighed, setting his laptop aside. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees. "Just tell me what you did with it. I need to find it, buy it back, whatever it takes," his intense gaze locked onto mine, a mix of frustration and desperation in his eyes. "I can't lose it. Just give me anything to track it down and bring it back to where it belongs."My heart raced, his father had it. Panic set in; I had to keep him from knowing, and stall as much as I could. Thoughts spiraled through my mind like a storm - stall, distract, don't let him dig deeper. I couldn't let the truth surface; at least for now. If Vincenzo finds out the truth, he could unleash a murderous fury. None of us can afford that chaos. Salvatore's authority is firm; the Outfit always stands by the reigning Capo, always."I... your mother's ring," I stammered, searching my memory. "I don't really remember..."He nodded, his eyes holding mine. "Three-stone diamond, blue Tiffany box. Do you have i
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅Adriano shook his head and sighed, "We were just talking, Dad."Salvatore mocked, "Why? What could you possibly have to talk about with a whore?" His disdainful tone emphasized the contempt he held. "Dad, come on..." Adriano said through clenched teeth.Salvatore chuckled, "You know what this means? Vincenzo will find out about this, and when he does, he'll take care of the whore personally."Adriano added with a grave tone, "And me, he won't spare me either." Salvatore nodded with a sinister glint in his eyes. "He wouldn't but you're his brother, you both share the same blood. I'm sure he'll find it in him to let you go. If he doesn't, then I'm still the Capo."Adriano took a step closer to his father, his gaze firm. "You're not going to tell him anything."Salvatore made a mocking face, his tone dripping with arrogance, "And why wouldn't I?"Adriano smiled slightly, but there was a steely edge in his words, "Because, Dad, if you tell him about this, I'll tell hi
Hey there,Thanks a ton for sticking around till the end of this wild and long ride! It's been a blast crafting this romance and I hope you've had as much fun reading it as I did writing it.I've loved weaving together all the juicy bits of love, drama, and danger. It's been like piecing together a puzzle but with way more heart-pounding moments.I hope you've been rooting for our main couple through all the twists and turns. They've been through the wringer, but love always finds a way, right?As you close this book, just remember, their story doesn't end here. They'll keep living on in your imagination, popping up when you least expect it.And if this story had you on the edge of your seat, I'm begging you, please, take a quick sec to give it a solid FIVE-STAR RATING. It's not just for me, it's for all those readers out there who haven't stumbled upon this story yet.Seriously, your rating could make all the difference in getting this book noticed. Think of it as your way of spreadin
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅•The First Steps! ❤️"Oh my god, do you have the camera ready?!" I asked, excitement bubbling up inside me as we watched Aurelia tentatively attempt to take her first steps.She was already pulling herself up on the furniture, her chubby little hands gripping tightly as she teetered on unsteady legs. Her blue eyes sparkled with determination, her tiny mouth set in a determined line as she focused on the task at hand. She had gotten her blue eyes from my mama. Vincenzo and I had been eagerly awaiting this moment, always keeping our cameras close at hand in anticipation. Not just us, but the whole house. Salvatore, Alessia, and his brothers, they all celebrated everything she did. With bated breath, we watched as Aurelia took a wobbly step forward, her face lighting up with a mixture of surprise and delight. She stumbled slightly, her arms windmilling for balance before she regained her footing and took another hesitant step."Look at her go," Vincenzo murmured, hi
Note: This chapter takes place after Vincenzo has sent Claire back to New York once he learns the entire truth.Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅She was safe—safer than she had ever been in Chicago before.I had rented out the house across the street and stationed my men there to keep a watchful eye on her. They would keep their distance, she wouldn't even realize that they were there. I was furious with her, consumed by an intense anger that threatened to engulf me. But despite my rage, I couldn't bring myself to abandon her. She was too self-destructive, too chaotic to be left to her own devices.Part of me wanted to confront her, to unleash my fury and make her understand the gravity of her actions. But another part of me, a side that only belonged to her, couldn't bear to see her suffer alone.In the end, my love for her won out. No matter how angry I was, no matter how much she lied to me, I couldn't abandon her. She was a part of me, and I would do whatever it took to keep her safe, even i
Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I held Claire close, her body tense against mine, her face buried against my chest as I observed Tony's pitiful state. His once tough presence was reduced to nothingness, stripped of his limbs, his sight, and his dignity. He lay there like a discarded husk, a mere shell of his former self, awaiting the inevitable embrace of death. Claire refused to spare him even a glance, she had stopped coming here all altogether after she had ordered their eyes to be taken out, it was just too much for her. Tony's existence was a grotesque mockery of humanity, stripped of its most fundamental faculties. Devoid of limbs, senses, and any semblance of autonomy, he lay there, a pitiful shell of his former self. The ordeal of surviving without the ability to walk or see had surely taken its toll on his mind, leaving him trapped in a nightmarish existence."Please, Vincenzo, I can't stand to be here any longer," Claire pleaded, her voice quivering with a mix of desperation and di
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I stirred awake, feeling Vincenzo's solid frame enveloping me from behind. The unmistakable presence of his sizable cock pressed against me sent a jolt of excitement coursing through my body. I couldn't resist teasing him, rolling my hips ever so slightly against his length.A low, guttural groan escaped his lips, sending a delicious shiver down my spine. His response was so quintessentially Vincenzo that I couldn't help but smile, relishing in the sensation of his desire coursing through me even before I opened my eyes to greet the day.Last night fulfilled every dream I've ever had about becoming a mother and sharing intimate moments with the man I love. "Are you awake, Mia Cara?"I reached up, my fingers delicately tracing the contours of his forearm where it lay against my ribs, just below my breasts. "Mhmm," I murmured softly. He pulled me closer, his embrace tightening as he buried his face in the nape of my neck. I could sense the gentle caress of his lips
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅"Who's been managing things while you've been away?" I inquired, pulling my hair up into a ponytail."I was," he replied, his gaze fixed on me through the mirror. "I know how to run my organization even when I'm not physically there."We stood side by side, him adjusting his tie while I styled my hair. I had been discreet about our baby, wanting the right moment to reveal the news, I wanted it to be special. I wasn't sure if he had noticed my subtle changes, but he hadn't said a word about it.His phone rang, and he quickly grabbed it, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at the screen. Without answering, he slid it back into his pocket."Who was it?" I asked, curious.His smirk widened. "Scott Mancini." My eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh my god, he must be so worried about me. You have to talk to him," I urged. Vincenzo's expression remained smug as ever, and he nonchalantly shrugged. "No," he replied, his tone dismissive."What do you mean, no?" I exclaimed,
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅Perched on the edge of the bed, I curled into myself, knees drawn up to my chest, and my chin resting on top of my knees. His presence across from me was palpable, his hand possessively wrapped around my ankle, anchoring me to him. Slowly, deliberately, his touch traced a path along my leg, each caress sending shivers of conflicting emotions coursing through me. Despite the state of mind, I knew he was in, his touch was a paradox of gentleness, a stark contrast to the brutality I knew he was capable of. Yet, at this moment, his tenderness felt like a lifeline, a fragile thread connecting us. With each stroke, I could feel the electricity coursing through my body, pulling me closer to him. It was like we were speaking our own language, one filled with longing and love. "You were the anonymous buyer..." I stated. His intense gaze locked onto mine, momentarily stealing my breath. "It was your debut exhibition. I had to support my girl," he replied, his voice dark a
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅My eyelids felt heavy as if they were weighed down by tons of bricks, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't force them open. With a groan, I summoned all my strength and pushed my eyes open, only to be met with the blurry sight of an unfamiliar ceiling.As I blinked away the haze of unconsciousness, the events of the previous night flooded back to me in a rush. Panic surged through me as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings.The room was dimly lit, with heavy curtains drawn tightly shut, casting a shadowy gloom over everything. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me back down onto the soft surface beneath me.Where was I? And more importantly, who brought me here, and why? Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I took in the opulent surroundings of the bedroom. Rich fabrics adorned the furnishings, and ornate decorations adorned the walls. It was a stark contrast to the cold fear grip
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I was four months pregnant, and while the first trimester had been relatively easy, now I was starting to show a bit, and the nausea was hitting me hard, making each day a struggle to get through. I gently caressed my slightly swollen belly, finding comfort in the subtle changes my body was undergoing. Although it wasn't yet noticeable to others, I cherished this intimate connection with my growing baby, a bond that only I could feel.For the exhibition tonight, I opted for a dress that would discreetly conceal my growing bump. I slipped into a black burnout maxi dress with delicate spaghetti straps, its modest neckline offering just the right amount of coverage. As I admired my reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. No one on this earth can tear you down, Claire Parker, not even the man you love with all your heart. The sleek silhouette of the dress hugged my curves in all the right places, disguising my pregnancy with effortle